Bible Verses to Help When You're Depressed
- Joon Tavarez
- Apr 22
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 24
When You Feel Broken
I’ve been there—feeling shattered on the inside while trying to hold it together on the outside. There were days I didn’t have the strength to pray, only to whisper a cry for help. If you’re brokenhearted, know this: God draws especially near in those moments. He doesn’t overlook your pain—He steps into it with you.
Bible Verses Help When You're Depressed
Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
When You Feel Hopeless
I’ve faced seasons where hope seemed like a stranger—where the future felt empty and the present unbearable. But in those darkest places, God gently reminded me that His plans were still in motion. You may not see it now, but there is a purpose unfolding, and He is faithful to finish what He began in you.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
Lamentations 3:22–23 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
When You Feel Weak
I’ve had times when I felt completely spent—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Just getting through the day was a battle. But God’s strength is real and present even when we feel empty. He doesn’t ask us to be strong; He invites us to lean on Him and find new strength we didn’t know was possible.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Habakkuk 3:19 “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’”
When You Feel Restless
Restlessness has often crept into my soul during seasons of anxiety or uncertainty. My mind would spin with questions and fears. But I’ve found that God offers a peace that doesn’t always make sense—but it is real. You don’t have to have all the answers to have His peace. Just come to Him.
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Philippians 4:6–7 – “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you…”
Romans 8:6 – “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
When You Feel Unloved
I’ve had moments where I questioned if I was truly loved—not just by others, but even by God. But Scripture reminded me that His love doesn’t waver with my feelings or performance. He loves me because it’s who He is. And that truth has anchored me on the loneliest days.
Romans 8:38–39 – “8 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 – “He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Psalm 136:1 – “His steadfast love endures forever.”
1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
When You Feel Joyless
There have been seasons when joy felt distant—like it belonged to everyone else but me. But over time, I learned that joy isn’t something I have to manufacture. It’s found in the presence of Jesus, even in pain. You may not feel it right now, but joy will return. God is still writing your story.
Psalm 30:5 – “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Isaiah 61:3 – “…to give them a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.”
John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
When You Feel Afraid
Fear used to grip me in quiet moments—imagining worst-case scenarios and feeling powerless. But over time, I’ve seen how God’s presence changes everything. He doesn’t promise a life without fear, but He promises that we don’t face it alone. He is with you right now, and He will never leave.
Joshua 1:9 – “ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley… I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Psalm 121:1–2 – “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
When You Feel Uncertain
There have been so many times when I just didn’t know what to do next. Uncertainty left me paralyzed. But I’ve discovered that even when I can’t see the path, God is still guiding me. He honors every step of trust. You don’t have to have it figured out—you just have to follow Him.
Proverbs 3:5–6 – “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Micah 7:7 – “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”
Psalm 91:1–2 – “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””
Job 13:15 – “Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.”
When You Feel Worthless
I’ve struggled with feeling like I’m not enough—like nothing I do matters. But God’s Word tells a different story. You are not worthless—you are wonderfully made and deeply known by the God who formed you. His love gives you value, and your identity is secure in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:3 – “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Galatians 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
When You Feel Stuck
These Bible verses help when you're depressed. I’ve felt trapped in my emotions before—like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move forward. But God met me in that place and gently lifted me up. He is a rescuer. Even when progress feels invisible, He’s working behind the scenes to restore and renew.
Psalm 40:1–3 – “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Isaiah 57:18 – “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,”
Psalm 9:9 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,a stronghold in times of trouble.”
Psalm 18:6 – “In my distress I called upon the Lord… and my cry to him reached his ears.”
Revelation 21:4 – “ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
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